Queen Camilla shows how to recycle your wedding dress and wear it anew

 Rewearing a wedding ensemble is an idea most of us could only dream of. Shifting trends – not to mention the diminishing likelihood of maintaining one’s bridal physique – mean that wedding dresses and suits are often fated to remain hanging at the back of a wardrobe or confined to a box, little more than a reminder of a happy day saved for posterity.

Not so for The Queen, who arrived at the Italian Parliament rewearing the dress she wore for her civil ceremony to King Charles at the Guildhall in Windsor in 2005. The ensemble featured a cream silk chiffon gown adorned with rows of woven discs and a scalloped neckline, paired with a silk basket weave coat. Finishing the look was a wide-brimmed hat by Philip Treacy, which featured ivory lace and feathers.

As she and Charles mark their 20th wedding anniversary in Rome, Camilla returned to the first of two looks she wore on the momentous day – the second was a floor-length embroidered blue and gold coat worn over a chiffon dress. Both were designed by London-based designers Antonia Robinson and Anna Valentine, who were then working under the name Robinson Valentine.

It’s not the first time the Queen has reworn the Guildhall gown. In 2007, a mere two years after the wedding, she broke with tradition by wearing it again for the opening of the National Assembly for Wales. This time around, the silk chiffon dress has been modified by Anna Valentine for the royal rewear, with additional embroidery from Beth Somerville from the King’s Foundation. The discs from the original have been replaced by visible seams that run vertically down the gown, which give a flattering effect.

Of course, the British Royals are no strangers to rewearing winning ensembles. There could be no better poster girl for the power of outfit repetition than the Princess of Wales, who is rightfully admired for her ability to prove the staying power of everything from Zara dresses to Alexander McQueen coats. King Charles himself is known for mending and recycling his clothes, some of which he has had for decades (recall the conspicuously repaired grey double-breasted suit he donned in 2013).

But to rewear a wedding dress, not once but twice, is rather more daring. One must applaud Camilla’s commitment to saving a treasured piece from dust-gathering retirement, not least because it’s impressive that she can still pull it off 20 years on.

Another notable case for wearing your wedding dress more than once comes courtesy of Keira Knightley. The actor first wore the bespoke Chanel tulle gown she eventually wore for her 2013 wedding to James Righton to a pre-BAFTA bash in 2008. Then there was Emma Stone, who gave new life to the Louis Vuitton mini dress specially designed for her wedding after-party in 2020, rewearing it to none other than the Met Gala in 2022

Mere mortals are getting in on the act too, with rewearing and adapting wedding dresses becoming increasingly popular. “Your wedding outfit doesn’t have to live in a box forever,” says Daisy Harvey, founder of upcycling app Loom, which is soon launching a collaboration with The Fall Bride. “There are so many different ways you can rewear or update your wedding dress. We’ve helped brides transform theirs through dyeing, embroidery, shortening the length or even turning it into something entirely new”

Bridal styling consultant Rosie Boydell-Wiles, who has transformed her own Vivienne Westwood wedding gown into a more wearable separate corset and skirt, has some advice for those looking to emulate Camilla.

“First, think about what you’ll get most use out of – if this is a dress then great, but if a top would be more wearable and the construction allows, this is sometimes a better route,” she says. “If you’re not going to fit into your original dress, adding a lace up corset panel into the back could help. And as the most damaged part of the dress will likely be the hem/train, shortening the dress to a more wearable midi can be another good step.”

Whether or not you have a royal engagement coming up, there’s clearly a compelling case for wearing your wedding ensemble long after the big day is over.